James Gallagher gained significant insights from training alongside Conor McGregor, but one particular lesson proved exceptionally valuable.
Known as ‘Strabanimal’, Gallagher is set for his highly anticipated return on June 14th, competing against Fabrício Soares at 971 FC in Dubai, UAE.
Fans have missed his trademark trash-talking and impressive striking within the cage, skills that were significantly honed during his time at SBG in Dublin, Ireland.
The mixed martial artist has now spoken openly about the single most important thing he absorbed while sparring with ‘The Notorious’.
Conor McGregor Taught James Gallagher About Mental Fortitude After Winning Despite Injury
At the age of just 20, James Gallagher stepped into the historic Madison Square Garden in New York, USA, to face Chinzo Machida, the younger brother of Lyoto Machida, at Bellator 180.
In a remarkable performance, he defeated the Brazilian via a first-round rear-naked choke submission.
Very few athletes that young could effectively manage the pressure of competing on such a grand stage, yet Gallagher handled it with notable composure.
He recently revealed how his resilient mindset was forged partly by being around Conor McGregor, and particularly by observing how the global icon dealt with suffering a severe injury just before a massive UFC showdown.
In an exclusive interview, Gallagher explained: “When I was coming up on the scene, sparring and training with Conor, it’s unbelievable just to see someone with that mindset and skill set.
“There’s stuff that I’ve learnt, not just skill-wise but more mentality and training, how you prepare for big moments and handling yourself under pressure.
“He deals with it at the highest magnitude, so if you can pick little bits up along the way, that’s probably the biggest thing I’ve learned, how to hold yourself at a high mentality when everything else goes wrong.”
Gallagher specifically recalled McGregor breaking his thumb three weeks before his first fight against Dustin Poirier. He mentioned being present, going to the hospital with Gunnar Nelson.
He continued: “To see how much stuff was going wrong in such a big moment, and how you can keep that mindset.” He noted that breaking a thumb during peak training weeks before a major event is “detrimental to your mindset going into a big event.” Gallagher concluded that being around McGregor during that time provided “a lot of learning.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Dad Reportedly Helped James Gallagher During Chaotic Russian Brawl
Gallagher`s career in MMA has certainly included some wild experiences.
On one occasion, he traveled to Moscow, Russia, to corner his teammate, Peter Queally.
When his teammate secured a devastating victory, the crowd`s reaction was far from positive.
Gallagher has since recounted how Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, attempted to shield him from objects being thrown in his direction during the chaos.
